Window-shade machine.



C. L. MICHAEL & H. KELL.

WINDOW SHADE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1914.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

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WINDOW SHADE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APH. 2. 1914.

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Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

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I EE c.`L. MICHAEL a II. KEII.

WINDOW SHADE MACHINE;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. I9I4.

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W/n essesl' CLYDE L. MICHAEL AND HENRY KELL, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW-SHADE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed sept. 12, 1916.

Application led April 2, 1914. Serial No. 829,128.

To alt w hom z'z may concern Be it known that we, CLYDE L. MICHAEL and HENRY KELL, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Aurora, county of Kane, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lindow-Shade Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines adapted for handling cloth, paper, or similar material in the process of cutting and forming the same into desired shapes in manufacturing processes, and more particularly to feed, cut, fold and sew the cloth and attach same to rollers in the process of manufacturing window-shades.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of machine adapted to perform automatically or mainly so the successive steps in the process of manufacturing window-shades completegto provide a gage adapted and connected to measure the length of material used in the shades; to provide means for gaging the width of the shades and means for trimming the edges thereof; to provide convenient means for fastening one end of the cloth to the shade-roller; to provide automatic means for creasing the opposite end to facilitate folding to form a pocket for the shade-stick; to provide means for sewing the edge or edges of said pocket; and to provide automatic cut-off means adapted and arranged for severing the successive lengths of shade material from the supply roll simultaneously7 with the creasing operation.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the shade machine, the gearing being represented diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the driving and controlling mechanism of the sewing attachment. Fig. A is an enlarged cross section illustrating a modified form of creaser bed-plate and coacting roll. Fig. 5 is a cross section at A-A on Fig. 3 of the threaded clutch and its release screw by which .the sewing machine 'is controlled. Fig. G is an axial section of one of the lateral gage trimmers and associated members. Fig. 7 is a cross section of the creased end of a one-color shade partly folded. Fig. 8 shows the device of Fig. 7 folded and sewed, and with the shade-stick in place. Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the creased end of a two-color or duplex shade partly folded. Fig. 10 shows the device of F ig. 9 folded and sewed and with the shadestick in place. Fig. l1 is a fragmentary view of one of the cutter supporting brackets and supporting frame therefor, the frame being in cross section. Fig. 12 is a cross-section of the winding roller which drives the shade roller.

In the construction shown in the drawings the mechanism is carried by a frame 1 comprising a pair of end brackets or plates 2 and 3 and rigid connecting means preferably in the form of bars secured to said plates. One of said bars -1 serves as a stiffener for the frame, and supports certain parts of the device, a second bar 1l is formed and adapted to serve as a bed-plate for the creasing and folding mechanism 5, and another of said bars G is formed and adapted to serve as a guide and sup Jort for the sewing or stitching apparatus A pivot rod 8 is disposed longitudinally of the machine, preferably at the lower rear portion of the machine for receiving and supporting a supply roll or bolt 9 from which the cloth 1Q is fed for making the window-shades. A feed roll 13 is provided to which power is applied, and over which the cloth passes on its way to the cut-'off and folding mechanism 5. Adjacent to said feed roll is another feed roll 14: carried by movable brackets 15 which are pivoted to the frame at points 1G, whereby roll 14 may be thrown into and out of coactive rolling engagement with roll 13, said lrolls being adapted and arranged for the cloth to feed between, and roll 13 preferably being rubber-covered to more definitely grip the cloth. A measuring means, preferably in the form of a visual recording gage 18, comprising a dial and hand is operatively connected to roll 14, whereby the cloth may be measured as it is fed forward, a worm gear connection being shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Any convenient means may be provided for driving roll 13, but in the form shown manually operated means are provided comprising a gear wheel 20 journaled on the frame plate 2 and having a crank 21 for driving the same, said wheel being arranged to coact with a gear wheel 22 carried on the adjacent end of the feed roll 13. Preferably a iiange is provided on the frame plate whereby the plate is strengthened and the gearing protected. Another roll 26 adapted for drawing the shade cloth for- Yard and winding same on the shade-roller Q7 is operatively connected to the driving gear 20, the connection in this instance comprising a gear wheel Q8 carried by said roll and an idle-wheel 29 connecting therefrom to the driving gear 20. Means 30 are provided adjacent to the roll 2G for holding the shade-roller 27 upon which the shade is rolled, said supporting means being adjustable and adapted and arranged for causing said shade-roller to bear coactively upon the roll Q6, whei'eby the cloth of a suitable length for the shade may be wound directly upon its roller. The roll 2G is preferably provided with a rubber-covered surface 26 along its whole length to produce friction and prevent slipping the cloth thereon. The roller 27 is rotated anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. l and the cloth is wound on over the upper side. rl'he arms BO are pivoted to a pair of brackets 34 carried by and movable upon the frame bar l, where they may be spaced apart adjustably, according to the width of the shade to be made, set screws 35 being provided to secuie the adjustinent. Said brackets Se and arms 30 togetlier constitute means adjustable for supporting shadesof different widths. Each shade is held by said means during the winding, tacking and end-pocket sewing operations. A scale-is provided for gaging the spacing of said brackets, said scale preferably being formed upon or carried by the bar et as indicated at 3G.

Side cutters are provided for trimming the edges of the cloth as it feeds forward. Preferably, for the purpose, a pair of coacting disk blades 37 and 3S are carried by each of said brackets 34:. These disks are mounted preferably as shown in Fig. 6, the lower disk C58 being carried by a sleeve 3f) journaled in the bracket 3l and also keved for longitudinal movement upon theI shaft lll as the brackets are moved for readjustment. Said keying also provides for rotating the cutter 3S by means of said shaf" l() which is operatively connected to the driving gear 20 by means of a gear -l-O. The cloth and blades 37-88 move in the same general direction at the point of cutting. The upper disk 37 is carried by aJ sleeve Jcl also journaled in the bracket 3l and provided with an end thrust spring l?. arranged to press the disk 37 forward against the coacting disk 38 to insure ei'iicieut shearing action. The sleeve lvl-l is provided with end thrust ball bearings 43.

The creasing and cut-off means aie disposed interinediately of the rolls 13 and 2G. r[he ci'easer comprises the longitudinally ridged and grooved bed-plate 4 disposed transversely of the path of the cloth and cariied by or constituting substantially a part of the frame bar 4, and a reciprocatoi'y device movable longitudinally of the bedplate and formed to register with the surface thereof, said device being preferably made in the form of a frame #i4A having a handle adapted for gripping to recipro cat@ the same and a pair of closely spaced similar rollers 16 journaled thereto and arranged to follow each other across the path of the shade cloth.

In the form shown in Fig. l lthe bed-plate il and coacting rolls are formed to produce three creases adapted to prepare the end of the cloth foi' folding, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The main or right hand portion of each roll as shown in Figs. l and -l is formed with similar fianges Lt7 and 48 at each end, whereby two similar creases `vif) and respectively may be made. At the left end of each roll is provided a detachable creaser member which in Fig. l is shown as a flange 5l spaced apart somewhat from the adjacent flange and adapted to fit ay groove 52 formed in the bed plate, whereby a third crease 53 may be made facing in the opposite direction from creases 49 and 50.

ln the modified form of bed-plate and roll shown in Fig. l, the detachable member 5l accomplishes substantially the same purpose as fiange 51 of Fig. 1,-br-.t is shown in a somewhat different shape, correspondiiig more nearly with that of the main portion of the rollers, and may be secured by any convenient means 55.

W'hen cloth is used which is of the same color on both sides the third-crease attachment 51 is omitted or detached. from the creaser rolls, and the shade is creased and folded as in Figs. 7 and S; but when duplex cloth is used having its opposite sides colored differently the-f attalchment 51 is used and the form of pocket shown in Figs. 9 and l0 .is produced, whereby the folded or pocket portion will be of the same color as the rest of the shade on each side respectively.

The crcaser is held in its operative position and is guided by means of a longitudinal rod 5G secured to the end plates and passing` through the handle A cut-off blade 57 is carried rigidly on the side of 'the creaser frame toward the feed rolls whereby the successive sections of shade cloth are severed from the main body by the operation of moving the creaser frame forward. By this means the cloth is creased and cut simultaneouslv by a sinOle movement of the hand of the operator.

In order to provide for drawing the cloth forward automatically after it is cut off and without thereby further feeding cloth through the rolls 'i3-14 a hand-operated i io ratchet clutch 13 is splined on the end of the roll 13 whereby the latter can be thrown into and out of gear with the wheel 22.

.Shade cloth aiiixing means 5S are provided adjacent to the position of the shaderoller 2 preferably adapted for tacking the forward end of the cloth to said roller. The taeking device comprises a frame 59 pivotally mounted on a longitudinally disposed stationary bar GO and having a part 59 adapted to serve as a handle, and also having means of any desired type (contained in the body 58 but not illustrated) for automatically feeding tacks, staples or other fastening means into place, and also having a hammer or similar striking means 61 adapted for manual operation. a restoring spring 62 being provided by which the hammer is raised after each stroke. The tacking ma.- chine when not in use may be swung back, as shown in Fig. l, against the frame bar G and away from the position of the shaderoller, and at all times is freely slidable longitudinally along the bar GO, so as to distribute the tacks or other fastening means along the length of the shade-roller, and to permit removing it to one side when not in use.

rlhe sewing machine is mounted to ravel forward and backward longitudinally on t1 bar G adjacent to the roll 2G, said il@ machine being adapted to stitch the edge or edges of the pocket formed at the foot of the shade by folding the cloth as creased by the device 5 for the shade-stick Get. Automatic feed means are provided for controlling the movement and operation of the sewing machine, said means comprising a threaded shaft G6 journaled on the frame plates and 3 and having independent driving` means at one end comprising a small gear wheel 68 and a large gear wheel 70 coactively engaging therewith, said large wheel having a crank handle 71 adapted for turning by hand. The rotation of said shaft 6G serves both to move the sewing machine along its guide support G and also to operate its sewing mechanism. For this purpose the sewing machine is provided with a threaded clutch adapted for releasing` and engaging the threads on said shaft whereby the machine may be moved by said shaft, or disconnected and moved independently. A hand wheel or thumb screw 'T5 is provided and operatively connected for controlling said clutch. A spring 77 tends to hold the clutch open by raising the threaded member TS away from the threads on the shaft. In order that the shaft 6G may also drive the sewing mechanism a bevel-gear 80 carried by the sewing machine is mounted to slide longitudinallyY on said shaft as the machine advances, said gear being splined to the shaft by means of a feather key 82 fixed to the gear and slidable in a longitudinal key- Vway 83 in the shaft. The gear S0 is operatively connected in any suitable manner as by gears Se to drive the sewing mechanism.

Means are provided for throwing the indicator feed roll 141 into and out of engagement with the roll 13, said means preferably comprising a lever 85 pivoted at 86 to a rigid bracket 87 depending` from the bar 4, and also having pivotal connection to the medial portion of a longitudinally disposed link 88 which in turn at its ends is pivoted to the free arms 89 of the brackets 15. By depressing the handle 90 the roll 14 is raised and thereby thrown out of action and vice The machine is operated as follows: A bolt of shade cloth is placed on the supply shaft 8. The end of the cloth is then carried upward and threaded diagonally forward and downward between the feed rolls 13 and le, the upper of said rolls being raised by lever S5 to facilitate introducing the end of the cloth preparatory to the automatic feeding process. Roll 14e is then lowered to its operative position by means of the hand lever S5. rlhe cloth is then advanced by turning the crank 21, lthe front edge being passed over the creaser plate and between the side cutters, whereby the edges are trimmed, and thence to the upper side of a shade-roller.' 27 held by the arms 30. The taeking machine is then moved forward over the edge of the shade and the cloth is attached to the shade roller by. means of a series of tacks or other fasteners applied by the taeking machine. The tacker is then moved to one side and the proper length of shade cloth is fed forward and wound upon the shade roller by further turning` of the crank Q1, the length of the cloth delivered to the shade-roller being indicated by the gage 1S. Then the feed mechanism is stopped and the combined hem creaser and cross-cutter is drawn forward across the shade cloth7 after which said device is moved to one side and the creased portion is folded, ready for sewing. The clutch 13 is then thrown out of gear so that while the trailing end of the shade is being wound the feed mechanism will remain inactive. The shade is then further wound upon the shade-roller and the creased and folded edge is swung over to bring the hem into the path of the sewing machine, which is then operated by turning the crank 71, whereby the machine is caused to advance across the end of the shade and stitch the folded parts together, ready to receive the shade-stick. lVhen duplex cloth is used both sides of the pocket are stitched., Vhen a seam is finished, the clutch 72 is thrown out of gear and the sewing machine moved back to one side ready for the neXt operation. The finished shade, wound upon its roller, is then removed from the arms 30,

another shade roller inserted ready to receive the next shade, and the clutch 13 is thrown into gear, whereupon the operation is repeated. After the cloth is once started through the feed rolls 13-14 the measuring is continuous with the feeding operation. Any desired form of gage may be used but preferably one in which the index arm may be restored to an initial or zero position after each operation.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the consti-notion shown may be altered or omitted without departing` from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

le claim:

l. A window-shade machine, comprising a frame, in combination with a pair of brackets carried thereby and slidable longi tudinally thereon, arms pivoted to said brackets, said arms being adapted and arranged for detaehably holding a shade roller adjustably in operative position, a roll journaled upon said frame coactively adjacent to the shade roller when the latter is in its normal operative. position, and means for supplying turning power to said roll.

2. A shade machine, comprising a support member, in combination with a pair of brackets carried thereby and movable longitudinally thereon, side cutters arranged in coactive pairs and movable with each of said brackets respectively, and means for supplying turning power to one of the cutters of each pair respectively.

3. In a window shade machine a frame, means for holding the shade roller demountably, a winding roll upon which the shade roller rests, and means for driving said winding roll. y

4. In a window shade machine, a frame, upwardly swingable arms formed and arranged for holding the shade roller demountably, a friction winding roll upon which the shade roller rests coactively, and means for driving said \\'inding roll.

ln a window shade machine, a frame, upwardly swingable pivoted arms formed and arranged for holding the shade roller demountably, a solid roll upon which the shade roller rests, and tacking means disposed at the other side of the shade roller from said roll, said shade roller being supported substantially rigidly upon said roll when the taeking means is operated.

G. In a window shade machine, a frame, means for holding the shade roller demountably, a winding roll upon which the shade roller rests, and hem sewing means movable longitudinally of and disposed adjacent to said roller holding means and ro-ll for making a shade stick pocket while the shade roller is held as stated.

7. In a window shade machine, a frame, means for holding the shade roller demountably, means coacting with the shade roller for drawing the windowshade forward and winding the same on the shade roller, and cutting means carried by the roller holding means respectively for trimming the sides of the window shade as it is dra-wn forward and wound upon the shade roller, the shade roller holding means being adjustable to hold said cutting means spaced apart `according to the width of shade to be made and to receive different lengths of shade rollers as may be required.

8. In a window shade machine, a frame, means formed and arranged for holding the shade roller demountably, a friction winding roll against which the shade roller bears coactively, said means and friction winding roll being normally urged together for holding the shade roller and winding roll in frictional contact, and means for driving said winding roll.

9. ln a shade machine, a frame, having mounted thereon means adjustably spaced apart for holding va shade roller and side cutters carried by said means, a winding roll having a friction surface, said roll and the shade roller holding means being disposed adjacently and being urged together, sewing means movable longitudinally of and adjacent to said roll and holding means and parallelly therewith, tacking means also movable longitudinally of said roll and holding means and parallelly therewith, said tacking means being on the other side of the shade roller position from said roll.

Signed at Aurora this 18th day of March 191i.

CLYDE L. MICHAEL. HENRY KELL.

lVitnesses:

CHARLES E. JacosoN, GEORGE H. Srannr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, D. C. 

